The Central Chapter of the Minnesota Sustainable Farmers Association and Happy Dancing Turtle will sponsor the second annual Spring Plant Swap from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

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Hosted on the Hunt Utilities Group Campus, the Spring Plant Swap is a free event for anyone who wants to exchange or share seeds, shrubs, perennial and annual plants, or trees.

A potluck lunch and several workshops are scheduled. Jim Chamberlin will offer a mushroom cultivation workshop where you can learn the basics of growing your own mushrooms.

“The plant swap is a great place for hobbyists, farmers, gardeners and anyone else who is interested in growing to get together and exchange resources,” Chamberlin said. “You get to try new varieties of plants and see what everyone has been up to. It’s a great social event.”

Participants are encouraged to trade plant cuttings, seeds, transplants and mature plants. “I plan on bringing squash and open pollinated corn seeds that I’ve saved,” Chamberlin said. “In the past we’ve had fruit trees, bulbs and lilies of all different colors available to be traded.”

The plant swap, potluck lunch and most workshops are free to attend, but the mushroom workshop has a $15 cost to cover materials. All participants will bring home two shitake or oyster logs to grow mushrooms at home.

For information on the plant swap and to RSVP for workshops, contact Chamberlin at jchamberlin@hugllc.com or 218-587-5001. The Hunt Utilities Group Campus is just west of Pine River on Highway 2.

I've worked at the Brainerd Dispatch with various duties since Dec. 7, 1983. Starting off as an Ad Designer and currently Director of Audience Development. The Dispatch has been an interesting and challenging place to work. I'm fortunate to have made many friends, both co-workers and customers.